Posts Tagged People’s Republic of China

Several weeks ago I wrote a post entitled “Google and China – Heading for a Divorce?” In that post I compared the astrology charts of the two giants to examine the underlying factors in the relationship. I was curious as to what astrology could reveal about the long-term prognosis for a continuing partnership.

It looked good. My conclusion in that post was that “there are many benefits to both parties and strong Saturn connections that lead to permanence. It depends on how they handle this juncture, though. If they let it devolve into a battleground, they can be formidable opponents.”

The Gauntlet is thrown

Yesterday, Google threw down the gauntlet. Quoting from their official blog:

“Earlier today we stopped censoring our search services—Google Search, Google News, and Google Images—on Google.cn. Users visiting Google.cn are now being redirected to Google.com.hk, where we are offering uncensored search in simplified Chinese, specifically designed for users in mainland China and delivered via our servers in Hong Kong. Users in Hong Kong will continue to receive their existing uncensored, traditional Chinese service, also from Google.com.hk.”

Of course the People’s Republic of China (PRC) responded, defending its internet censorship laws and playing down any effect this move may have on China-U.S. diplomatic relations.

What is happening astrologically?

Both Google and the PRC are experiencing a major Neptune transit and in each case it is virtually the only major activity in their respective charts during 2010. Neptune crises bring to a business (and a country) trends that sweep over the entity and cause it to lose its footing. Lines of business dissolve, not in response to competition or new technology, but because of a sea change in consciousness of the public.

In Google’s case, Neptune is opposing its natal Venus, which rules social instincts, long-term professional relationships, public relations, markets, and money. In PRC’s case, Neptune is squaring the highest point in the chart, the Midheaven, which indicates the country’s reputation on the world stage, and their growing position as a major player in the world markets, “too big to ignore.”

Both parties confused

Often Neptune transits indicate that a company’s leadership is confused about exactly how to address the crisis. A move of Google’s search functions to Hong Kong seems more like a symbolic statement than a solution. The Chinese government has already indicated it will assert its filtering functions to keep banned information from entering China.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said that no harm has been done to China’s image, but this indicates the delusion that is so common during a Neptune transit. Both internally and externally, China has again made it clear to the world that they don’t trust the individuals of the Republic to handle uncensored information in a way that is supportive to the state. In fact, China’s censorship policies have increased in quality and scope over the last few years as it’s opened its markets to foreign investment.

The impact of Neptune in Aquarius is sweeping through the entire world and China is not immune. This influence represents a global desire to connect with each other on equal footing through Aquarian means: electronics, virtual space, airwaves, social media, and innovation. These developing social media serve an essential role in the ongoing development of our world and China won’t escape it for long.

We’ll keep watching Google and the People’s Republic in their not-too-elegant dance. I still think the compatibility indicated in their charts will pull them through this crisis, once all the dramatics simmer down. But both need to take the lesson of Neptune, which is to focus on what is the same rather than what is different, and to listen for underlying currents rather than what is apparent on the surface. Their relationship has benefits for each other and the world.

About Ellen Longo

Ellen Longo

Welcome, everyone: old friends, clients, new friends, those of you I’ve met, those I’ll meet through these pages. Welcome to a long-term, mutually beneficial conversation about the wisdom of astrology as it pertains to the success and profitability of your business.

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